U.S. patent application number 10/412140 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-09 for creative business cards.
Invention is credited to Ruiz, Diogenes A..
Application Number | 20030188465 10/412140 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28675857 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030188465 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ruiz, Diogenes A. |
October 9, 2003 |
Creative business cards
Abstract
A business card comprises a super hero template with a facial
caricature of the entity whose business card it is on one side of
the card. The opposite side comprises information about the entity
as well as game information and the like. The card may be used as a
collectable card, a business card, or part of a game.
Inventors: |
Ruiz, Diogenes A.; (Raleigh,
NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COATS & BENNETT, PLLC
P O BOX 5
RALEIGH
NC
27602
US
|
Family ID: |
28675857 |
Appl. No.: |
10/412140 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10412140 |
Apr 11, 2003 |
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09870570 |
May 31, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
40/124.01 ;
40/360 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
40/124.01 ;
40/360 |
International
Class: |
G09F 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A business card comprising: a first face and a second face, said
faces oppositely positioned one from the other; a super hero body
template disposed on said first face; a caricature of a head
contiguous said super hero body template; and business related
information disposed on said second face.
2. The business card of claim 1 further comprising game information
disposed one of said first and second faces.
3. The business card of claim 1 further comprising a photograph of
an individual from which said caricature is derived, said
photograph disposed on said second face.
4. The business card of claim 1 further comprising personal
information, said personal information disposed on said second
face.
5. The business card of claim 1 further comprising a business
entity title line positioned on one of said faces.
6. The business card of claim 1 further comprising a business
entity title line positioned on both of said faces.
7. A business card comprising: a first and a second face, said
faces oppositely positioned one from the other; a fold running
along a longitudinal axis of said card, thereby forming a folded
business card; a super hero body template disposed on said first
face; a caricature of a head contiguous said super hero body
template; and business related information disposed on said second
face
8. The business card of claim 7 further comprising a lateral axis
comprising a middle, said fold intersecting the middle of said
lateral axis.
9. The business card of claim 7 further comprising game information
disposed one of said first and second faces.
10. The business card of claim 7 further comprising a photograph of
an individual from which said caricature is derived, said
photograph disposed on said second face.
11. The business card of claim 7 further comprising personal
information, said personal information disposed on said second
face.
12. The business card of claim 7 further comprising a business
entity title line positioned on one of said faces.
13. The business card of claim 7 further comprising a business
entity title line positioned on both of said faces.
14. A method of promoting a business comprising: creating a
business card comprising: a first face and a second face, said
faces oppositely positioned one from the other; a super hero body
template disposed on said first face; a caricature of a head
contiguous said super hero body template; and business related
information disposed on said second face; and passing out said
business card.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising creating a set of
related business cards.
16. The method of claim 15 where in creating a set of related
business cards comprises creating a set of business cards amongst
different people from a single company.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein creating a set of related
business cards comprises creating a set of business cards amongst
different people from a single industry.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to business cards that may be
used in a game and add an element of novelty to the presentation of
the business card.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Business cards have been around for many years and provide
individuals with a way to provide information about themselves or
about their company in a convenient manner. Business cards are
typically two inches by three and one half inches (5.08
cm.times.8.89 cm) which means that they fit easily within a wallet.
Generally a business card contains the name and contact information
about an individual. This contact information may include a company
or business name for which the individual is employed.
[0005] Over the past few years, business cards have evolved to some
extent. It is now not uncommon for a photograph to be placed on a
business card. For example, real estate agents in particular seem
to have photographs on their business card.
[0006] Likewise, www.egocards.com offers business cards that have
cartoon like images on the front surface of the card and a
miscellany of information on the back surface.
[0007] In an unrelated field of endeavor, collectable card games
have seen a flurry of activity. Related in some ways to baseball
cards and the like, this industry is led by Wizards of the Coast
and their game MAGIC: THE GATHERING, which spawned U.S. Pat. No.
5,662,332. Others followed suit with competing games such as
ILLUMINATI, SPELLFIRE, and the like. Some companies used lucrative
licenses such as STAR TREK, STAR WARS, POKEMON, HIGHLANDER, or the
like to promote their games, with varying degrees of success. While
forming a booming retail opportunity, such collectable card games
are not used in a business context.
[0008] A market exists for business cards that may be used both as
business cards and as the basis for a collectable card set.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention comprises a business card that has a
super hero body template displayed on one face of the business card
along with a caricature of the face of the person whose business
card it is. On the other side, the business card may comprise the
following sorts of information: name, company name, company
address, phone number, email address, company web address, favorite
food, favorite color, animal guide, and the like as well as a
photograph of the person whose business card it is.
[0010] In another embodiment, the business card is in fact a larger
card, folded down a longitudinal axis such that the resulting
folded card is the size of a normal business card. The information
may be rearranged as needed or desired. Likewise, the addition of
the extra space allows additional information to be positioned on
the card.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a side of a first embodiment of the card
of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates an opposite side of the card of FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment
of the card of the present invention in a folded posture;
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a first side of the card of FIG. 3;
and
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a second side of the card of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The present invention comprises a business card that is
easily adaptable for a collectible card set and for use in a card
game. A first embodiment of a card 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and
2. FIG. 1 illustrates a first side 12 of card 10. Card 10 is a
standard business card size and may be made out of appropriately
stiff card stock material or other semi-rigid paper material. First
side 12 comprises a super hero body template 14 with a head
caricature 16 imposed thereon. Note that other body shapes, sizes,
and such may comprise the super hero body template 14. Likewise,
while a male template is shown, a female template is certainly
contemplated by the present invention. A business entity title line
18 may be positioned at the top 20 of the first side 12. Game
statistics 22 may be positioned approximate to the super hero body
template 14. Further, business type information 23 may be
positioned on first side 12. Business type information 23 may
comprise, in one embodiment, a P, S, NP, or PS, standing for
Product, Service, Non Profit, or Product and Service respectively.
Business type information 23 may be used as part of a set
designation, for a game purpose, or other purpose as needed or
desired. Other codes are also contemplated to classify other
possible business and non-business types. Approximate bottom 24 of
first side 12 additional indicia 26 may be disposed. In an
exemplary embodiment, such fictional indicia may comprise a hero
name, a power, a weapon, a weakness, and an alias. Note that the
weakness may not be labeled as such, but rather may merely be a
listing with people familiar with the card 10 aware that the line
in question refers to a weakness. The power and weakness may be
used in a game as described elsewhere.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a second side 30 of card 10. Second side
30 is positioned on the side of the card 10 opposite that of first
side 12, as is well understood. Second side 30 may comprise a
photograph 32 of the individual for whom business card 10 was
created. Additionally, a business entity title line 34 may be
positioned near top 36 of second side 30. Business information 38
may be positioned, in one embodiment, inferiorly of the photograph
32. Other positions are possible if desired. Personal information
40 may be positioned near bottom 42 of second side 30. Exemplary
personal information 40 comprises a favorite food, a favorite
color, and an animal guide.
[0018] Additional information may be disposed on card 10 as needed
or desired. This additional information may comprise information
relating to which set of cards this particular card 10 belongs
and/or game-related information relating to a game in which this
card 10 may be used. These concepts are explored in greater detail
below.
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the present
invention, namely card 60. Card 60 is similar in many ways to card
10 but, as illustrated in FIG. 3, is a bi-fold card that folds
along fold line 62 into a size equivalent to a standard business
card. Fold line 62 extends along a longitudinal axis 64 (FIG. 4) of
the card 60 and may in a first embodiment be in the center of the
lateral axis 66 (FIG. 4) of the card 60. In alternate embodiments,
the fold line 62 may be located at other positions on the lateral
axis 66 of the card 60. An advantage of the second embodiment over
the first embodiment is that the second embodiment is larger than
the first. This allows more information to be presented thereon
and/or presented in a larger typeface for easier reading.
[0020] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate card 60 in an unfolded state. Card
60 may comprise a first side 68 that forms the exterior of the card
60 when folded. First side 68 may comprise comprises a super hero
body template 14 with a head caricature 16 imposed thereon. Note
that other body shapes, sizes, and such may comprise the super hero
body template 14. Likewise, while a male template is shown, a
female template is certainly contemplated by the present invention.
A business entity title line 18 may also be displayed. Game
statistics 22 may be positioned proximate to the super hero body
template 14. Likewise, business type information 23 may likewise be
positioned on first side 68. Additional fictional indicia 26 may be
disposed on first side 68. In an exemplary embodiment, such
fictional indicia may comprise a hero name, a power, a weapon,
weakness, and an alias. Additionally, because card 60 comprises
more surface area on first side 68, more information may be
displayed. In the exemplary embodiment, a miniature image 70 of the
super hero body template 14 and head caricature 16 are used along
with business related indicia 72. Business related indicia 72 may
comprise slogans, blips about goods or services sold or the like as
needed or desired.
[0021] Second side 74 of card 60 is illustrated in FIG. 5. Second
side 74 may comprise a photograph 32 of the individual for whom
business card 10 was created. Additionally, a business entity title
line 34 may be present. Business information 38 may be positioned
inferiorly of the photograph 32. Personal information 40 may also
be present. Exemplary personal information 40 comprises a favorite
food, a favorite color, and an animal guide. Again, card 60 is
larger than card 30 so second side 74 may further comprise flavor
text 76. Flavor text 76 may be related to the business for which
the business card is intended, more personal information or the
like as needed or desired.
[0022] Cards 10 and 60 may be part of a larger set. The cards
within a particular set may be related one to another by the fact
that they are common employees of a single employer. Alternatively,
sets may be arranged for particular industries or the like as
needed or desired. Still further, there may be opportunities to
collect the cards 10, 60 through an online interface, networking
meetings, and the like.
[0023] With or without the sets, the cards 10 and 60 maybe used not
only for business promotion purposes, such as acquiring the cards
10, 60 and passing them out in business environments, but also
available for game use such as in a collectable card game or the
like.
[0024] While not preferred, it is possible to create fictional
business cards to round out sets or complete decks for a game. This
is not preferred because it may create confusion amongst
individuals who have received "real" business cards from the set as
well as the fictional business cards and try to contact a fictional
individual from a fictional business card. However, explanatory
indicia may be used to reduce this likelihood if needed or
desired.
[0025] The present invention may, of course, be carried out in
other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing
from the scope and the essential characteristics of the invention.
The present embodiments are therefore to be construed in all
aspects as illustrative and not restrictive and all changes coming
within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are
intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *
References